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Circulars 1-31
CIRCULAR 10 December 1996
- THIRD ASIA-PACIFIC LEGAL METROLOGY FORUM - 3 NOVEMBER 1996 (SUNDAY), AND WORKING PARTIES MEETING - 1 NOVEMBER 1996 (FRIDAY), VANCOUVER, CANADA
- 1.1 The Third Asia-Pacific Legal Metrology Forum meeting was held in Vancouver on 3 November 1996 in association with the OIML Tenth International Conference of Legal Metrology. The meeting was attended by forty seven delegates from fifteen member economies, and representatives from regional and international organisations, the International Bureau of Legal Metrology (BIML), and Western European Legal Metrology Cooperation (WELMEC). The Forum Working Parties on Legislation and Administration, Intercomparison of Calibration & Pattern Approval Testing and Training held meetings on 1 November.
- 1.2 The Convenor would like to thank all delegates for their valuable contribution at the meetings of the third APLMF and Working Parties in Vancouver. The cooperation and participation of all member economies is very much appreciated.
- 1.3 Draft report - A draft report of the Forum is enclosed with this Circular. If there are any comments/amendments, please forward them to the Secretariat, preferably by 31 January 1997, in order that an amended copy can be prepared for circulation to all delegates and relevant organisations. In particular, I would like to draw your attention to agenda item No. 13 which summarises the work program adopted by Forum members for 1996/97.
- MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
An amended copy of the Memorandum of Understanding is enclosed with this Circular. The amendments/proposals adopted at the Vancouver meeting have been incorporated in the revised document, and the Secretariat would appreciate any further comments by member economies.
- WORKING PARTY TO STUDY RICE MOISTURE METERS. WORKING PARTY ON MEDICAL MEASUREMENTS INCLUDING A PROJECT ON SPHYGMOMANOMETERS.
The Secretariat will circulate the scope and objectives of these Working Parties in the next few weeks, and would like to request members who are interested to participate or contribute to inform the Secretariat.
- AUSTRALIA-CHINA MEASUREMENT SKILLS TRAINING PROJECT
The preliminary organisation for the above training project based on the implementation of OIML R 76, is currently underway, and the Convenor is now seeking funding for conducting the course. Members will be kept informed of its progress through the Circulars.
- VENUE FOR THE FOURTH FORUM MEETING
- 5.1 The Forum Convenor is currently discussing with a number of Forum members the venue of the Fourth Forum meeting that is expected to be held in September 1997. If funding can be obtained, it is proposed to hold in conjunction with the Forum meeting, workshops/seminars on:
- legislation and administration;
- high capacity flow measurement; and
- implementation of OIML International Recommendation, IR 76.
- SCOPE OF WORKING PARTIES
- 6.1 The Third Forum meeting endorsed revised objectives and target outcomes for the following working parties, which are included in the Forum Report:
- Legislation & Administration;
- Training; and
- Intercomparison of Calibration & Pattern Approval Testing.
- 6.2 The scope, objectives and target outcomes for Working Parties on:
- Pre-packed Articles
- Utility Meters; and
- Mutual Recognition Agreetment;
are included in this Circular and comments on these are requested. In addition, Forum members are invited to nominate members to these working parties.
- INFORMATION LEAFLETS ON APLMF
As members would be aware, Forum activities have increased since the formation of the APLMF in 1994, with members of the Forum becoming increasingly involved with Forum activities. However, I would believe that the Forum activities are not widely known to other organisations which may have a supporting role or other indirect involvement with metrology matters. It would be appropriate if members circulate information on the Forum to these organisations.
To facilitate this, the Secretariat has prepared an up-dated information leaflet on the APLMF, and I would urge all members to circulate this information to organisations and departments in their respective economies so as to obtain a wider acknowledgement and support of the programs of the APLMF.
Five copies have been enclosed with this Circular. Members may request additional copies from the Secretariat.
SCOPE, OBJECTIVES AND TARGET OUTCOMES OF WORKING PARTIES
- WORKING PARTY ON REQUIREMENTS FOR PREPACKED ARTICLES
The Working Party on Prepacked Articles was established at the inaugural APLMF meeting held in Sydney in November 1994. It is recognised that there has been a great expansion in the quantity of goods that are packaged and measured before sale. The basic trade measurement principle is that these goods should meet similar requirements to goods measured at the time of sale, such as no short measure, identification of the packer on the packet, standard sizes, permitted deficiencies, drained weight and deceptive packaging, all of which may constitute technical barriers to trade.
- SCOPE
The Working Party on Requirements for Prepacked Articles covers the legislative and administrative requirements for prepacked articles, including short measure, identification of the packer on the packet, standard sizes, permitted deficiencies, drained weight and deceptive packaging.
- OBJECTIVES
To harmonise the requirements for prepacked articles in the Asia-Pacific economies with a view to removing technical barriers to trade.
- TARGET OUTCOMES
a. A survey and analysis report of the prepacked articles requirements and legislations in the Asia-Pacific economies;
b. Uniform and harmonised legislative and administrative requirements for prepacked articles in the Asia-Pacific economies.
- WORKING PARTY ON UTILITY METERS
The Working Party on Utility Meters was established at the second Asia-Pacific Legal Metrology Forum meeting held in Beijing on 22 October 1995. Utility meters comprise a range of measuring instruments that are used for trade and these include water meters, gas meters, electricity meters, taxi meters, telephone meters and parking meters. There is a need to ensure that the pattern approval requirements for these instruments are harmonised as there is significant international trade in these meters. The Working Party aims to identify the usage of, and requirements for, utility meters in Asia-Pacific economies with the view of harmonisation and uniformity of utility meters requirements in the region.
- SCOPE
The Working Party on Utility Meters covers utility meters including water meters, gas meters, electricity meters, taxi meters, telephone meters and parking meters.
- OBJECTIVES
To ensure that requirements for utility meters, namely water meters, gas meters, electricity meters, taxi meters, telephone meters and parking meters, are harmonised within the Asia-Pacific region.
- TARGET OUTCOMES
- a. A survey and analysis on the extent of metrological control of utility meters in Asia-Pacific economies;
- b. Uniform and harmonised requirements for utility meters in the APEC economies;
- c. The introduction and recommendation of pattern approval, verification and reverification of utility meters.
- WORKING PARTY ON MUTUAL RECOGNITION ARRANGEMENTS
The harmonisation of legislative and technical metrological requirements leading to the removal of technical barriers to trade is a major focus of the Asia-Pacific Legal Metrology Forum.
- SCOPE
The Working Party will identify the requirements for mutual recognition arrangements between legal metrology authorities in the region and other regional legal metrology bodies.
- OBJECTIVES
To support free trade in measuring instruments and the removal of technical barriers to trade through mutual recognition arrangements on measurement and testing in legal metrology.
- TARGET OUTCOMES
To develop the elements of a mutual recognition agreement on acceptance of pattern approval test reports and certificates and other legal measurements.
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